Gun carriage



March 26, 1935.

A. P. BUQUOR GUN CARRIAGE Filed July 9, 1952 a Gm 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 'iQMMW March 26, 1935. A. P. BUQUOR 1,995,793

GUN CARRIAGE Filed July 9. 1 2 9 sheets-sheet 2 March 26, 1935. A, BUQUQR 1,995,793

GUN CARRIAGE Filed July 9, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 26, 1935. A. P. BUQUOR 1,995,793

GUN CARRIAGE Filed July 9 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 g 52mg March 26, 1935.

A. P. BUQUOR GUN CARRIAGE Filed July 9, 1952 9 SheetsSheet 5 March 26, 1935. A. P. BUQUOR GUN CARRIAGE Filed July 9, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 26, A p BUQUOR I GUN CARRIAGE Filed July 9, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 25 'i j Al 4gb PEA/qua)" v i I l B I M i x I. 4/ dllozuugb March 26,1935.

A. P. BU'QUOR GUN CARRIAGE Filed July. 9, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 mw ARN 26, 1.935 A. P. BUQUOR 1,995,793

GUN CARRIAGE Filed July 9, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Mar. 26, 1935 1 r i l j i 1 T 19 49 ERF EIJ i 1 Adolph-P.- Buquor,-York, Pa; assigno'r to artin "Parry Corporation,*York, Pat, a'co'rporation' of Delaware a 5 I h 1 lf z a iflfil 519 sta n 1 75 i l' i p This invention relates to 'guncarriagesladapted same from turningentire1y around in either difornhighpspeed andjeasywheelingfirection. i p v ,At .ythepresen't time) the Government dot the From astill morespecific aspect,rthe invention 'United States :hasin-itspossession somethou providesrocker devices ,with the rear armsoii 5 sandsof sloww-movinghorse-drawn' gunsrofathe shorter length thanthefront arms sothat the 5' type generally known/asjtheuFrench 7516mm. lifting actiongwhen fired at center hub, willllift While theserguns are satisfactoryin operation, the short end of the rocker if there is any lifting V they have no practical utility for modern waraction -;whatsoever,-; while causing the forward, fare for many reasons; including; for instance, longer *end-g with thegwheels; attached thereto to 10 the fact that the artillery wheelsqthereonr'ender remainaonithe,ground thereby causing the gun 10 them incapable of a speedof rmore thanizt'welve to stayiin the same position.- V r g miles per hour. iFon-practicalgpurposes thereaTherepare; a multiplicityuof other important fore, these guns 'must. be transported l onvmoto'i features of: this invention which will be apparent V vehicles and removed therefrom at-the' place of to those skilledinthe art iroma reading of the combat, "which is awkward and tedious, involvfollowing specifications in conjunction withrthe l5 ing considerable -man-power; I drawings attached"heretoand forming a part One of the objects "ofthe present invention is hereof, in which: V. 1 J to convert this type of gun into an ea'sy-wheeling, Figure 1 represents aside elevation of the gun high-speed, four-wheel'job which hasla speed of in a position readyforifiring; a t v v, a between-thirty-five andfifty miles per-hour :Figure ziis a'similariview showing thegun re- 20 More specifically, thetinventibn comprehends coiling, with theihinged huband. gun breech in theprovision of substantially s-shapedrocker its'raised.position;..- ,3," 1 7 arms adapted for quick attachment to'the Sta- 4 Figure3 isaytop View showing the construction tionary axles of gunca'rriages; each rocker arm of the? s-shaped' rockerarmthe hingedhub; atbeing provided "withstub axles ,f'for' theintertachedrthereto-and the coil spring and chain 25 changeable reception of rubbe'r tired wheels control; A; H l without in any way interfering with the gun Figure 4 is a side View showing the manner in equipment possessed. by thejgunsfoffthe'type refwhichqthe rocker arm permits the assembly to ferred to, which-permits, among, other things:} traverse uneven roads "without substantially A. Firing directly from the 'rubbertird wheels" changingfthetposition ofthe gun; v 30 without lifting the carriage from the ground. Figure 5 isa' detail aview. taken on line- 5--5 BI Permits the gunstobetowed'at a high rate of-Figure 3zand showing the construction ofthe of speed bye; car ortruckL; l guide-l for thexhinged hubyr. a

qEasier-wheelingf f .Figurefiiis a detail viewtaken on line 6- -6 of *D.;Les's motive or mau -power for moving the Figure 5; l 1 f. 35

- 1 i :Figure-T is a detail view ofzthe ball and socket guns. y i

:;E. Firingdirectly from the'tires without prep connection for connecting the 1 wishbone to the aration or'leveling of theground because of the 'chaincontrohshaft; l a or 1 independent rocking; action permitted "by p the @Figure8isaotop'view showing the arrangement adapter,- and whichcauses whelsto-remain in of the. gun shieldiand the manner in which the 49 contact with the roadway irrespective "of its same-.may: bemoved laterally without contacting roughness," u M withthe rocker arm unit; i t

F. Retaining fof theposition of the gun-car- Figure 91s a. detail viewtof the hinge hub per riage on theground whereby practically toelimise f E i i i V nate resighting each time the gun is'firedh a Figure1=10 is a side elevation of a modification 45 Another object of" the invention is to provide whereinthe hydraulic control means for the hinge a hinged hub arrangement permitting the gun; hub. is located. on theoutside. bya novel linkage V hub andaxle to raise or llower without lifting: the arrangement -V i V I 'four wheels fromthe ground, and the provision Li Figural 11 Iisa detail view thereof showing the 50 of hydraulic cushioning means in i connection hub'in raised positionafter. firing}. r 5Q w t 't hinged 2.3 i Figure 12fis a front'view takenjon line12- -12 Still another'object' o'f the in'vention is to pro- 7 of figure llitwhile .7 t .7 1 I vide an arrangement of chains and springs FfQr Figurej13.isa:top view showing thehollow'cast associationwiththe-rocker"armsjtocushion-the in'g forreceiving the guidezprovided by thehinged 5 extremeniovements thereofandtowprevent the hublassembly irciz 1 2 to which, as stated, artillery wheels are ordinarily attached, one on either side. After these Wheels are removed, my adapteris applied there to, which adapter includes whatIterm S-shaped rocker arms 3, one on either side of the axle; These rocker arms are provided with hubs i'more specifically disclosed in Figure 9 which'are slipped M over the ends of the axle and secured thereto.

Stub axles 4', extending in reverse directions, are

provided by the rocker arms and receive inter-.

changeable standard wheels and bearings, for instance, of the type employed on Fordtrucks. The rocker arms constitute stabilizers'for permitting one wheel to rise higher than the other while not substantially raising the gun, as shown in Figure 4. I

They also provide a complete motorized unit which secures the advantages stated in the objects'of the specification,"as well as the following advantages. The lateral sliding movement of the gun barrel and the shield 5 is not interfered with in any way. It eliminates the use of} springs which are affected; by road or firing shocks. No leveling of the gun is. necessary when firing the same because of the'difierent positions the-independent axles assume relative to each other. It is unnecessary -to install segmentsunder the wheels when firing and-the firing can be done directly from the tires. This S shaped rocker construction further balances strains and load atthe center hub, requires lessin'a'n-power and less pulling over rough roads, substitutes-straight pulling fo'rlifting; the independent axles allow the wheels to roll over road obstructions, ditches, or-uneven ground with just one-half of the lifting required ona'two-wheel carrier.

The forward end 6 of the rocker unit isprefer- I ably of greater length than the rear portion 7, so

' that there will be a tendency to-lift the re'arshort end ofthe rockenif there any liftingaction at all, permitting the long end to remain on the arm 9 at 10 and 11 by suitable hinge bolts 12..and

13. The rocker arm is preferably of integral formation and is provided with a well 14 adapted to receive a guide extension 15 provided-by'the hinged hub. The hinged hub is shaped as shown any desirable form but preferably .is of the hydraulic type. It is important, however; that1it be so adjusted that less frictional resistance is encountered during theupwardmovementiof the axle and gun than during its recedingposition to normal. This is for the reason that too much frictional resistance I would have the tendency of lifting the gun carriage and not permitting the independent hinging of the axle, which is undesirable. Suitable aligning fingers 22 are preferably'provided. V

When traversing roads, in movement from one position to another, it is usually desirable to lock the. hub '.to-. the carria'geso as tojprevent independent movements thereof and for that purpose the invention provides for a lockingpin 23 which is slipped through the casting. as shown in Figures 5 and 6 and engages the aperture provided by theears 24 of the hub guide extension 15. The

hydraulicv shock absorbing means, resisting the arcuate hinging movements of the gun and axle,

may be placed in any desirable position, either on the outside of the rocker arm or within the well thereof;

The well provided by the rocker arm is also preferably.v provided iwi'th cushioning rollers a and b which engage the guide extension 15 provided by the hinged hub as shown clearly in Figure-' 6. This eliminates considerable noise and insures the guideextension receding in anaccurate manner toiits normal position- The' S-shaped' rocker arm is preferably corrugated as'at 25 and, as stated,.the rearward portion, fromthe' hub backwards, is shorter than the forward portion. In operation this rocker arm .balances weight, strains and :twist at center and substantially relieves strains from :the axle. "In order, to control'the' movement of the rocking action and toprevent the S-shaped rocker arm from. turning over or under complete1y,;I provide chain and spring arrangements which resiliently cushion the extreme positions of the rockers. and prevent thesamepfrom turning completely around in 'either'direction of movement,v 7

It. is=important',- however, that these means are so constructed that they do, not interfere with the-free lateral movements ofthe trail and gun. Therefore, I have provided'a construction including a wishbone device-.26 secured at either; end by a bracket 27 which in turn is fastened to the axle in any desired manner as at 2 8. The central part of this wishbone has a ball and socket con.- nection 29'as shown in Figure 7.. A chain con trol. shaft, held in fixed position relativetothe wheels ;by the wishbone, through the ball and socket. connection aforesaid, is designatedv byref erence numeral 30. Sleeves 31 and 32, fitting over the fixed shaft and movable relative there: to, are provided and these are movable laterally either direction whenthe guntrail is moved, the same being secured to the trail in any desircontrol fixed shaft 30 are secured chains 33:11am

.i 2ijcoil spring 3 a th e hains a S e to the rocker arms in anydesirable manner as at 35and36'., M

, As will be seen, the rocker arms carrying the independentlymountedwheels have a complete freedom of movement for normal operations but their extremepositions arecushioned by theooil springs beforethe chains definit'ely'resist further rotating movement thereof; The entire as; semblage of the wishbone, slidingsleeves or brackets 31 and 32, chains, coil springs, etc. .a re compactly disposed. within the minimum. space provided thereby in such away asnot to interfere with the free lateral movements of the gun and shield. 5 x

' 1 1 The chains are, fastened, as explained to each end of the stationary shaft, which shaft remains in figealqposiu n, permitting thef trail and 1 gun to move laterally without moving i he chain" conti 'olsh'aft or changing theicon'trol'of the rockers;

This also k prevents strain; or 1 twist going to the gun axle, which'has a sliding' fit with-the'feather key or spline, which would bind and: shear if" al-' lowed i to rotate against-the key'i" Thex shaft 7 holds i the' chains atone length} thereby not changing the rocken controlswhen-""the gun is inovedlaterallys a i V i n In Figures lo to 13 inclusive; I have illustrated a variant form of; my invention; 1 In ithis form' the rocker arms, ofS-shaped' configurationyare retained as 'is the chain and: coil spring: radius control for the :same. Ho\5veve1","in this "modified form, 'the hydraulic shock absorbing:- means for frictionally resisting the hinged movement of the hub and axleis placed on ther'outside: asfshown. The hydraulic shock absorber inayi take'kany c1e.-'

Ysirablefformand is. designated; in: this modifica tion, by reference numeral 37;."The' hi'riged'hub 38 :fitting over 'the stationaryraxle 39 has ,dOWIl-r -wardly extending guiding part 4oiwhichwzflts within" the well 41 providedwby; the rocker arms.

' There. is provided {at shoulderi"42*which engages the portion 43 of the wellrwhen'the deviceis in; its

'- normalvoperation as. shown' in" Figure '10. The

wellha s. a lip '44 engaging the roller 45 carried by the guide extension 40 to-prevent the'exten sion from-leavinglthe confines of thetwellpwhen l the-fgunsis recoiling as shown in Figurje;1l.:.-:As

a preferred embodiment" of 3 the invention; there are registering pins 46 fitting withintrecesses 47 of the-hinged :hubJyTheT hub i hinges :around the l pintle 48 i and a c linkagejz mechanism 49, and 50 connects the shockgabsorberrand hinged'mubito the rockerarmsz. this formofi the invention it is likewiseiimportant that" the hydraulic, shock 'absorberkbe. so regulated and ,constru'ctedthat minimum-resistance "to "upward swinging; movement is encountered, so that the rocker arms and wheels will not move-with :themovement of the axle, hub and gun during recoil. Ajlockin g pin may also be rutilized-to lock the hinged hub lextension, '40 toxthe well of fthe'rockerarm;-when moving the gun from one-place to another, 1 when itis undesirable to have any-relative move.- i iment between :the axle and the independently mounted-wheels; Therefore a" lockingwpin -jiS- slipped through the; aperture 151' in a manner sh n ilar toathat 1- ,described: inapplicants preferred embodiment of the inventioniup; i 1 .Referring now toyl igs;v 14, and 16,: a still further improvement "is disclosedtherein; This ,relates to: a pair of pivotally movable-wheels A,

one, mounted on .each side of theacarriagez as "more ,clearly shown in Fig. 15. -These wheels; as

will be observed in Fig 1 15 extend laterally a greater distance than the @glln. -c arriage;wheels Generally the purpose of: these wheels is'for emer gency, and. they are'mounted at thegenter of; the

irockers on eachhside andareprovided with'qsolid 7 ,rubber or steel tires. Whenlowered -to the position shown in Fig; 14 the carriage may. be turned around a complete circle'without moving; the carriage r'forwardly or backwardly; and they may also be used for; switchingthe trai-lfto the right 'or left whentfiring at .a moving target. Furthermore, they permit firingi directly from their solid rubberaor 'steel tires andsare employed as a jack :iorglifting thegun for quick zchanginggof the wheels or tires of the carriagetwheels or for transporting, in emergencyvcasespas'a two-wheel support. They are also useful-i011 lifting \the gun quickly outrof soft'groundsfi a r Referring': now more specifically'to. the draw ings, Fig. 14, as statedfidiscloses the pair- 0f emergency wheels in operative .positionwherein the-gun carriage wheels secured. to L the rockers are. removed to theground. {order -toiaccom plish' this 'movement, s I :provide' a lever Brwhich may be actuated'by: any suitable; form of linkage .'I'his crank=tlever is pivoted vabout a "rtrunnion shaft. C which in turn is attached to the bottom of:the;rocker arm asseinbly.s:.-The' rubber. or steel tired iemergency wheels ,iAr are W 1 provided 1 with ,wheel hubs which:areattached to the cranks D as at E, stub axles F being provided for that purpose,-; as;iclearly shownfin Fig.116; The crank lever B. may move; abouttan are of: 180$" from the position in: full; lines in-, Fig; .14- to', the position .showmin dottedlines therein forlthe-zpurpos'eaof lowering ithegun .icarriagei upon its four=wheel assembly; iThis cranklever may be provided with any suitablet'formaof,.alock for maintaining it in either-onerof its-extreme movements :whereby the emergency wheels. are maintained either in :fully,

elevated or fully'depressed position. These locks are generally illustrated; by reference character Gr'which are clearly shown in :Fig. 14. I

As t-willtbe apparent whenthe lever B is moved 7 irornjits ,dotted line position to its full line& position thecrank D to which the emergencys wheel -isj ournaled in stub axles correspondingly moves so that'theaxes of the emergencyv wheels, are in thet'same, vertical plane as the trunnion shaft C. -=In this condition, quick maneuveringcan be obtained and, as stated,'it has many other important functions forrepair .work or for transporting; etc.

12am herein claiming all generic subject matter existing bet ween thisapplicationand my copend- Jug-application, SerialJNo. 621,727, filedsimulta:

' units. being of: generally :S-shaped formation; the forward portions being provided with inwardly extendingzstub axlesv receiving demountable' wheels foriindependentt rotary movement thereon and having a' pocket providing for lateral: movement of'the gun shield, the rearwardly extending portions of the unit having outwardly extending stub faxles for receiving. demountable wheels .thereon,

eacl'i'ofsaidTockingunits being adapted toassum'e 'various positionswithout affecting the rocker unit :on the :opposite end-ofsaid axle. I 1

2.:'A.gun:'carriagein combinatioma stationary axle, rocking units securedto' the opposite ends thereof and adapted to freely rock thereon; each of; said rockable funitshaving] forwardly and ieailwalfdly Extending iie srjprqvieed with "nice pendent stub axles," demountable wheels carried by said stub axles i and independently rotatable thereon; each of said units being adaptedto rock independently of the other, means for controlling the ;degree of rockingmovement of said said means comprising a wishbone construction. associatedrlwith the? gun ,.oarriage a I transverse fixed shait sleeves slidablymounted thereon in accordance with; the lateral movements of the fgun and shield therefor, and flexible connections secured t a -shaft random said rr oqkeb e unit r sp movement of said.units.;. ,7 g I 3. 'Agun carriage-of the character described comprising. an axle, rockable 'wheelcarrying units a mounted. on each end of-;said axle for independent movement thereon; each unit having stub axles for receiving. interchangeable wheelsdisposed in the front and at therean-respectively, of said axle, said units having a hinged-hub for receiving "said axle whereby the gun, during recoil, together with the axle and hinged hub, may swing relativefto said wheels and units' without liftingxthe'wheels' fromthe ground. .7 Y 7 '4. A-gun carriage assemblage ,of the character describedcomprising'rocker armshaving-stub axles at their forward and rearward ends respectively for receiving rubber .tiredlwheels adapted for independent'rotation .on' saidstub axlesmeans for mounting said rocker. arms on the opposite ends. of said shaft, said :meanscomprising hubs hingedly secured to said rocker armsand adapted to permit the axle, h'uband gun'to rise relative to the arms and wheels during recoil" 5. A gun carriage assemblage of the character described comprising rocker :arms having stub axles at their forward and rearward ends respectively for receiving rubber tired wheels adapted for independent rotation on said stub axles; means ends of said shaft, said means comprising hubs hingedly secured to said. rocker arms and adapted to permit the axle, hub andgun' to ri'se relative to .thearm's an'dwheels during recoil, and means for resisting the upward hinging action thereof. 6. A gun carriage-assemblage'of the character described. comprising rocker arms 'havinglstub axles at their forward and rearward'ends respectively for receiving rubber tired wheels adapted for. independent. rotation on said stub axles, means for mounting said rocker arms on the. opposite ends of said shaft, said' means comprising hubs hingedly secured to said rocker'arms. and adapted to permit the axle, hub and gun to rise relative to'the arms and wheels during recoil, and hydraulic means for .resisting'the upward and'downward swinging movements of an axle. '7. An gun carriage of the class described comprisingan axle, rocker arms rotatably secured to the ends thereof, .each rocker arm having stub axles,rubber tired wheels mounted thereon,fand means providing. for movement of said. axles relavely to therockerarms Tea 'coil. i F

axle and gun have. a movement relative thereto during recoil. I r

' 10. A gun carriage of" the class described comprising wheels for; transporting the gun, an axle, hubs mounted on said axle, said hubsbeing hinged relative to'the wheels whereby the same, with the axle and gun supported thereby, may have a swinging movementrelative to the wheels'during recoil. 11. .A gun-carriage-oi the classdes'cribed comprising an. axle-,yrockerf units having hinged hubs for securing the same. to the" axle, each .of said rocker units having a plurality ofstub axles with wheels interchangeably mounted thereon, said hinged hubs permitting the axle and gun torbe moved relatively to the: rocker arms during recoil.

:12. A gun carriage'of' the classdescribed comprising an axle, rocker units having hinged hubs for securing the same tothe axle, each of said rocker units having aplurality of stub axleswith wheels interchangeably mounted thereon, said hinged hubs permitting. the axle and gun to be moved relatively. to the'rocker arms during re coil,and means for'yieldably resisting the swinging movements of the hubs. v

13. A. gun carriage of the class described come prisingrocker unitszand hubs for attachment to the gun axle, each of saidunits being provided witha plurality of Wheels, saidhubs being hinged relative to the rocker units whereby the same may.

move. with. the. axle andgun during recoil. and

means for preventing. '.;S9,ld movement during transportation of the gun.

l4. A gun carriage ofz the class described comprising rocker units and hubs for attachment to the gu'n axle, each of said units being provided with a plurality of wheels, said hubs being hinged relative to the rocker :units whereby the same 'may move with the axleand gun during recoil and means for preventing said movement during transportation of the gun, said means comprising the rocker units.

a locking pin for positivelyfastening the hub to 15. A gun carriage of thecharacterdescribed comprising rocker units, saidunits'having hubs adapted for attachment to thei'gun axle and each unit carrying a plurality of independently mounted" wheels, said 'rocker units. being. adapted to move relatively to said axle and relativelyto each other, and means for permittingmovement of the ed'wheels, said rocker units being adapted to move relatively to said axle and relatively to each other, means for permitting movement of the hubs relative to therocker units duringrecoil, whereby to prevent movement of said wheels from the ground,- and hydraulic means for resisting the relative movements of-said hubs.

l7. Aguncarriage of the class described comprising rocker "devices of unitary character, each unit having. a plurality of stubaxles, wheels mounted thereon for independent rotation, a hub hingedly'secured-to the rocker devices intermediate their lengths to permit-the hubs to move withthe axle and gun during recoil, a well pro- Vided by the rocker units and ahydraulic shock absorber hinged within thepwell and to the hub respectively for'r'esisting the swinging movements of thehub in bothdirections.

18. A gun carriage of the class described com prising rocker'devices of unitary character, each unit having a plurality of stub axles, wheels moimted thereon for independent rotation, ahub' hingedly securedLto the rocker devices intermediate their lengths to permitthe hubs'to move with the axle and gun during recoil, a well provided by the rocker unitsiand a hydraulic shock absorber hinged within the well and to the hub respectively for resistingtheswinging movements of the hub inboth directions, and a guide associated withthe hinged hub, adapted to fit within the confines of the well when in normal position.

19. A gun carriage of the character described comprising a rocker arm assembly, means for securing a rpluralityyof wheelsthereto, a second set of wheels'carried bysaid rocker arm andleverage means for lowering said second set of wheels and for raising. the gun "carriage wheels Irom the ground. V

20; In combination, a gun carriage, a stationary axle therefor, a rocker arm provided by each of the ends of said stationary. axle, and a pair of wheels provided by eachrof the rocker arms, a pair of emergency wheels pivotally" secured to the rocker arms intermediate of the forw'ard and. rearward wheels carriedthereby, and leverage aryaxle therefor, a rocker arm provided by'each end of the stationary axle, a pair of wheels rotatably journaled to the forwardly and rearwardlydisposedportions of each of the rocker V arm's'for transporting the 'gun carriage, a pairof intermediately disposed supplemental wheels carried by said rocker arm, and means for moving said supplemental wheels into contact with the ground and for elevating the gun carriage wheels when desired.

means for moving the emergency wheels down- 7 l ADOLPH P. BUQUOR. 

